Basic development
The pattern-setting generator was developed for an ambitious project in the high-level language C++. The program is used to create and manage work pieces, tools, work objects, robots and external controls as well as the 3D graphical positioning of the work pieces in a pick-and-place pattern (source and target system), when using the work objects and tools.
Data from the source and target systems are applied to information on movements and are stored in a robot syntax conform file. After the transfer to the robot, the file acts as a control file for all type–related movements. Simply explained robot movements are created with the generator.
The principle
The project handling is based on the typical Drag and Drop function developed for Windows as the principle is well known and is intuitively employed by the user. A project can optionally include many robots, which for their part can be fitted with a tool and a work piece. Additionally a source and target system is created in each of the robots. Within this system the work piece fitted to the robot can be positioned and adjusted by the related editors.
Functions such as selection and de-selection, copying, relocating and erasing are provided to keep the duplication of the work pieces as simple and intuitive as possible.
After preparation the patterns are offset against each other on the basis of the tools used. A robot control file is produced, which contains the position and orientation of the individual points within this space. The control file serves, after the transfer to the robot, as a control input document for all the pattern-related movements.